You could see the whole bay area from up there – probably with a similar view that you’d get atop a Golden Gate Bridge tower. And it was accessible – you could just hop the fence (while minding the concertina wire) and then use the internal staircase to get to the platform up top. It was sweet:

Click to expand

But then then took out the first flight of stairs, so you couldn’t just walk up the thing and then they put up a cell tower right next door and then, not too long ago, they took the observation tower down.

So here’s the situation today. Cell tower on the left, and the site of the observation tower (the now-empty square) on the right:

Per John Sedat, a UCSF professor of biochemistry and biophysics and member of the National Academy of Sciences, “There are many misconceptions, and we will write a careful answer pointing out their errors. Because four people are working on this, it will not be done in one day.”

Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA* Chairman and Founder, in San Francisco to Discuss His Parenting Book, ‘How to Raise A Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents’

NEW YORK, Sept. 7 — Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Founder and Chairman of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, will discuss his new book How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents on Monday, September 27, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. at The Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA. This is a free community event. Complimentary books for the first 400 people to register at www.emanuelsf.org/register.

Califano will share almost 20 years worth of insight and research on what really prevents children from using drugs and alcohol and will help parents understand that they have the greatest influence on their children’s decision to use drugs and alcohol.

Califano will offer advice on how to discuss many of the most daunting parenting topics like:

— When and how to talk to your kids about drugs and alcohol.
— How to respond when your kid asks, “Did you ever try drugs?”
— How to know when your child is most at risk.
— How to prepare your teen for the freedoms and perils of college.

Califano will be introduced by Rabbi Stephen S. Pearce, D.D., Ph.D. Following the presentation will be a Q&A session and book signing.

WHAT: Advice driven presentation based on parenting book How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents

WHO: Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA Founder and Chairman

WHERE: The Congregation Emanu-El, 2 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA.

WHEN: Monday, September 27, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.

*The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is neither affiliated with, nor sponsored by, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (also known as “CASA”) or any of its member organizations, or any other organizations with the name of “CASA”.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Now, it turned out that the Google Car driver got ticketed, but not for a moving violation. Apparently, Google didn’t feel the need to secure a permit to photograph this National Park for commercial purposes, even after discussing the issue with the Presidio Trust. But Google showed up anyway so somebody called the federales and Google got an expensive citation.

Well, Google isn’t the only operator of maps cars about town, it seems. Check out this new one, one that only just recently ventured into our Presidio:

What is the driver mapping with that masted array? And does the Silicon Valley company that sent it here doing whatever it is it’s doing have permission from the Presidio Trust?

“Project requirements
20 cars where allocated to Germany. We felt that the remaining visible black on the cars was still playing a negative role especially with the derogatory press that Street View had received in the past year.

What we did
We co-ordinated with Googles Geo team, logistics team and Street View car teams to produce a full car wrap that would cover the whole car. The chosen designs were then implemented by Picture onto 20 cars over a period of 5 days in Stuttgart.”

“Presidio of San Francisco (August 9, 2010) – President Barack Obama has appointed two prominent Bay Area business leaders and a longtime parks advocate to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors. David H. Grubb, William R. Hambrecht, and Charlene Harvey will replace outgoing board members T. Robert Burke, Nancy Connor and Curtis Feeny, all of whose terms have expired.

That’s just a taste. The whole point is that you’re supposed to get out there and go see everything for yourself. The more the merrier.

As these people realized on Saturday, walking along the new/improved Park Trail. (Learn more about the changes to this trail after the jump.)

The entire place is one giant art gallery but without the white wine.

And, oh yes, here’s one concept that didn’t make it. I guess you’d need to suppose that a bird made a nest and laid eggs in a golf cart and then somebody hoisted it into the air. Anyway, here’s the Photoshopped proposal:

(This installation might serve to hack off the golfers of the Presidio, I don’t know…)

There you have it. Here are some upcoming events for PH and you can find the deets of the Park Trail after the jump.

Exhibition Pavilion and Self-Guided Tours
The starting point for the Presidio Habitatsexperience is an indoor exhibition space created from repurposed shipping containers. Here visitors can view all 25 proposals submitted for the exhibition, scale models, and other artist material, as well as video about the Presidio’s plants and wildlife. An Exhibition Mapwill lead you on a self-guided journey encompassing all installation sites. The Exhibition Pavilion hours through October 31, 2010: 11 am – 5 pm, Wednesday-Sunday. It is located at the corner of Storey Avenue and Ralston Avenue in the Fort Scott District.

Log Cabin SeriesThe Presidio Trust presents a year-long series of talks, multimedia presentations, and performances at the historic Log Cabin. Inspired by the Presidio, its wildlife, and Habitats art, the Log Cabin Series will host events on the second Thursday of each month. The Exhibition Pavilion will be open until 7 pm on these evenings.

Animal Estates and Edible Estates: An Evening with Fritz Haeg
Thursday, June 10, 7–8:30 pmAuthor, designer, and artist Fritz Haeg created Snag Tower, a vertical dwelling for native species and currently an installation of Presidio Habitats. Learn about his project Animal Estates, proposing the re-introduction of native animals into cities, and his book Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn.

Triskelion: The Story of the Presidio Habitats Exhibition Pavilion
Thursday, July 8, 7–8 pm
San Francisco Architects Zoe Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak, known for their progressive, modern designs that include new media technologies, discuss their creation of the Presidio HabitatsExhibit Pavilion from repurposed shipping containers arranged at 120 degree angles around a central atrium.

The Birds and the Bees: A Presidio Experience
Thursday, August 12, 7–8 pm
About 200 bird species and 57 bee species buzz and fly through the Presidio. Gain a new perspective on the different shapes and sizes of wildlife homes within the Presidio from Presidio Trust natural resource experts.

Family Program: Create with Nature
Saturday, June 12, 10 am to 2 pm
Saturday, August 7, 10 am to 2 pm
Kids and grown-ups alike will get creative with natural materials in an outdoor Presidio setting. The ingredients for the day include wood, leaves, stone, pine cones, bark, branches, water, and imagination. Bring a picnic lunch or snack. Meet at the Exhibition Pavilion.

Guided Adventures
Presidio staff, friends, and FOR-SITE Foundation representatives will lead visitors on guided walks. Meet at the Exhibition Pavilion. RSVP is required to (415) 561-5418 or presidio@presidiotrust.gov.